Yeah we'll still have to disagree. I think the Smashing Pumpkins-tinged Old To Begin is as good as anything else on the album (which a gorgeous solo), and it's followed by the epic Type Slowly, which also features beautiful instrumental work from the whole band. Embassy Row is a great rocker with witty lyrics, and then you have the laid-back, loungy Blue Hawaiian.
There's an exotic, spacey (middle eastern would be too reductive, I'm guessing) sound on some of these songs (also touches on We Are Underused and Transport Is Arranged) that make this distinctly otherworldly compared to previous works (the lushness is retained but made more homogenous/rootsy on Terror Twilight). Even the smorgasbord of Wowee Zowee doesn't explore these soundscapes.
If one of your favorites is a generic Spiral Stairs rocker (which is fun, but slight compared to what Malkmus is trying), not surprising you're not appreciating the whole thing more. I think Starlings --> Fin is an amazing conclusion to the album (they're probably my two favorites), but I don't think some of the stuff in the middle is that different in terms of their languidness.
